The tripartite meeting at New Delhi with the Government of India and Government of Manipur representatives was attended by representatives of UPF led by its spokesperson Aaron Kipgen, and representatives of KNO led by its spokesperson Seilen Haokip.
TFM Desk
Amidst the controversy surrounding the payment of huge sum of money, as stipend for the cadres of Kuki militants under SoO, just ahead of the just concluded Manipur elections, the Suspension of Operations with Kuki militant groups in Manipur under the umbrella of the United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO) has been extended for 12 more months at New Delhi on Monday.
The Suspension of Operations was effective up to February 28, 2022, before it was extended for the fourteenth time.
The SoO was further extended based on mutual understanding of all the parties in the meeting held on Monday at New Delhi for twelve more months with effect from March 1, 2022, till February 28, 2023. It was also agreed that the ground rules shall remain unchanged.
The tripartite meeting at New Delhi with the Government of India and Government of Manipur representatives was attended by representatives of UPF led by its spokesperson Aaron Kipgen, and representatives of KNO led by its spokesperson Seilen Haokip.
Ashutosh Kumar Sinha, Addl. Director-General of Police (Int), represented the Government of Manipur while Piyush Goyal, Addl. Secretary(NE), Ministry of Home Affairs represented the Government of India.
It may be recalled that the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on his visited Churachandpur and Kangpokpi district before Manipur went to poll on February 8, and March 5, said that the government will hold peace talks with all Kuki militant groups and their issue will be resolved in the next five years if they voted BJP to power.
While the Union Home Minister asked the Kuki community to have confidence in the BJP Government, he assured that they will talk to all Kuki organizations, and a new life will be given to all Kuki youths to enable them to join the development of the nation, of the hills and Manipur under PM Modi.
During the election rally in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the Union Home Minister had also said that as the problem of Bodo militancy was solved in the neighboring Assam, no Kuki youth will have to carry arms anymore as their problem will also be solved.
It may be mentioned that days before Manipur went to poll for the first phase, the Kuki National Organisation, an umbrella group of armed Kuki outfits, declared support to all BJP candidates for the 12th Manipur Assembly elections, in view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent assurance to resolve the Kuki militancy.
“In line with the ongoing political dialogue between KNO and Government of India, the central government and ruling BJP leadership have promised swift settlement of Kuki political aspirations. Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shahji has announced the same in his public address on 23rd February, 2022 at Churachandpur public Ground. Therefore, KNO has resolved to extend support to all BJP candidates for the 12th Manipur Assembly elections,” stated a statement by KNO president PS Haokip.
KNO also appealed to all chiefs, CSO leaders and all voters to support BJP candidates in all KNO operational areas. “Any person or organization acting contrary to this appeal will be deemed acting against Kuki interest,” it warned.
The UPF had also followed suit days later before the election. The Congress party had alleged that Kuki militants have been used by the BJP during the election.